Who is to blame?
For decades we have been talking about deforestation and forest loss. However, the magnitude of this problem goes beyond just talking about it, putting in place policies to regulate timber harvesting and trade or organising workshops and conferences to state the obvious when it is almost out of our control.
No more talk!
What we need is action?
Deforestation is regarded as “the purposeful clearing of forested land.” Whether this is to make way for agriculture or for livestock grazing or even to obtain timber log wood for our stylish furniture and for the construction of our houses, bridges and roads.
we all contribute in one way or the other in the acceleration of forest loss and with it, biodiversity loss.
We all contribute in one way or the other in the acceleration of forest loss and with it, biodiversity loss.
In a study by the FAO Forestry Division in 2023 How much do large-scale and small-scale farming contribute to global deforestation? (fao.org), it was assessed that despite progress being made in curbing deforestation, the conversion of forest landscapes to other land use remains a major threat to the critical biodiversity in forest biomes and how this may impact the process of achieving climate and biodiversity global goals.
Small-scale and large-scale farming have often been identified as the drivers of deforestation.
Small-scale and large-scale farming have often been identified as the drivers of deforestation, establishing the nexus between the expansion of agricultural land and deforestation. It is therefore no surprise that this study placed the impact of agricultural expansion from the period of 2000 – 2018 as the most damaging period, with small-scale and large-scale farming driving almost 90% of deforestation in that period.
The study indicated that small-scale farming alone accounted for 71% of agricultural-driven deforestation while large-scale farming accounted for just 29% of agricultural-driven deforestation worldwide.
Africa alone accounted for 7% of this agricultural-driven deforestation linked to small-scale farming.
More interestingly, the result showed that Africa accounted for 97% of this agricultural-driven deforestation linked to small-scale farming and representing a share of 80% for cropland expansion and 16% for livestock grazing.
While these findings are commendable, we are told in another study in 2019 Global maps of cropland extent and change show accelerated cropland expansion in the twenty-first century | Nature Food, that Africa accounts for only 17% of the global cropland area, with 55% in Eurasia, 16% in North and Central America and the rest in South America, Australia and New Zealand.
The study explains how the relatively large cropland increase compensates for population growth in Africa thereby resulting in small changes in per-capita cropland area.
Agricultural expansion linked to small-scale farming is not the only driver accelerating deforestation in Africa.
Although the expansion of agricultural land is most notable in Africa due to its ever-increasing population, agricultural expansion linked to small-scale farming is not the only driver accelerating deforestation in Africa. Still, the challenge and conflict of feeding a demanding population, to safeguard food security while wrestling to meet up the sustainable forest management goals to protect terrestrial ecosystems is much too glaring.
Deforestation in Africa is a real threat to biodiversity loss and climate change.
Deforestation in Africa is a real threat to biodiversity loss and climate change despite progress in curbing the rate of deforestation. Small-scale farming maybe linked to deforestation as the primary driver but there are other drivers that contribute to increase rate of deforestation in Africa. These include urbanisation, the extraction of logged wood, domestic wood supply chain, fuel wood for domestic consumption, the construction of roads and bridges etc.
Urbanisation!
The need for Africa’s economic growth and development.
Take urbanisation for example, many countries in Africa promote economic growth and development as key priorities. To do so, authorities may push for urbanisation thereby encroaching in forested areas. This aspect of development to boost the country’s economy or to house the growing population can sometimes accelerate deforestation. A good example is the case of Anambra state in Nigeria, where economic development has led to encroachment into forest reserves Concerns as urbanisation threatens Anambra forest reserves (icirnigeria.org).
Who is to blame?
For deforestation in Africa.
Who is to blame? The government, the growing population who need housing and food security or us (modern consumers), who constantly seek for stylish furniture and forest related products?
The truth is that we are all responsible for the increasing rate of deforestation in Africa and elsewhere around the globe. Our insatiable consumption of forest related products and wood furniture for modern lifestyle, as well as the need for economic development is a constant reminder of why deforestation is a real threat.
What we need is action !
To slow down the process of biodiversity loss through the eminent threat of deforestation.
What we need is action, only then can we control the devastating effect of deforestation, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
What are your thoughts on this?
